I totally agree with all what you said. I want to share my experience. I am teaching the Neural Networks course in the Masters level and the Signals and Systems course in the Undergraduate level. The masters students are able to use the e-textbook in class without being disrupted. At the same time they are all able to take notes and interact. On the Undergraduate level, the case is different. The students are not mature enough to use their tablets without being disrupted. In this case, i have to guide them in what they have to study, which parts in the book and the method they have to use. This is done more easily by using textbooks.

I think it is a matter of maturity. We have to educate students about e-books.

Although in principle this should make reading texts more accessible it may disadvantage students who may not be able to afford or have access to the technology that supports this resource. In the UK we struggle to ensure that international students have equal access to reading text but in some instances where internet access is poor or intermittent this can disadvantage such students.

Hi. Apart from sever divide in access to computers and web, I think switching to e-text books is inevitable and indeed necessary. New technology fundamentally changes the way that we read books. I am currently working on the concepts of "social reading" and "collaborative annotation" and how I can integrate them into my classrooms. Some examples are subtext (web.subtext.com) or nowcomment (nowcomment.com) or emargine (emargine.com) which bring new opportunities both in reading and note taking and interaction between learner and instructor on and off the campus.

That should become more and more popular! In fact, Libraries now buy more and more "e books". As said above e book save money, save space, save energy (students do not need to carry many books)....

I agree with the intention however, I remind myself with the famous digital divide issue which according to Winifred, the disadvantage that many students still have to access the necessary technology infrastructure and consequently take equal advantage of e-learning or the use of e-textbooks.

In Lebanon, the Sabis group is experimenting with e-textbooks in class only, however, I think they have a financial scheme to help students afford the technology needed.

As a Dean, I realize that there will always be a need for books because of the different learning styles. Some students need the book whether it be preference or ease of test taking. While the E-books are cheaper there will always be a student that asks for the book.

I agree with Aikyna, different needs have to be respected. Therefore, this may justify that e-books will continue to be experimented. Overall, it may take years before any concrete results at a global scale.

I totally agree with all what you said. I want to share my experience. I am teaching the Neural Networks course in the Masters level and the Signals and Systems course in the Undergraduate level. The masters students are able to use the e-textbook in class without being disrupted. At the same time they are all able to take notes and interact. On the Undergraduate level, the case is different. The students are not mature enough to use their tablets without being disrupted. In this case, i have to guide them in what they have to study, which parts in the book and the method they have to use. This is done more easily by using textbooks.

I think it is a matter of maturity. We have to educate students about e-books.

Roger! We are currently living a transitional period in the evolution of textbooks from paper to e-books. I believe that with time the transition is inevitable, but for now the situation will benefit some people and disfavor others as Winifred Eboh has mentioned. So, a smooth transition at this point is recommended where you leave this issue as an option for those who feel comfortable for the switch and allow some time for the others to follow.

Although I am an e-book author I do not think that the e-learning is the only or ”trendy modern” way. Let me mention only one simple reason. The problematics of ophthalmia...

So, Beres, your concern for long exposures may lead to Opthalmia. What if instructor designs the class in such a way that long exposures are controlled.

Reasonable with a controlled exposures the risk could be minimalized. But every instructor looks this question in this point of view or/and every of them are a good designer at all? I don’ think so. I think that the e-text books are very useful. They have lots of special alternatives to learn/teach in some cases more efficiently like the paper based books. But in addition of these at prolonged learning process (for a semester closing exam etc.) can not be missed the “traditional” books. I think the instructor have to combine the resources and have to count with both.

Dr. Achkar, I agree with the idea of transitioning from books to e-books even for the fact that the book might be very valuable. E-books are easier to use, and what I mean is that searching for information could be easier, students could directly use the search engines in the tablet or PC to find the title or information they are looking for. Moreover, the e-books could be more interactive, so for example in the case of signals and systems, students could observe the signals and what could happen after applying a filter or performing a transform etc .., another example could be for a programming course where the student could click on the exercise found in book and text area would pop up allowing him to code and check the results.

Not to forget that the transition needs a change of culture and the availability of resources. The first one is the challenge.

Students are highly interested to use their cell phones but not ready to use the tablet for studying purposes!

So they have to be well oriented and guided from the beginning.

When I was a student I was quite frightened by the examinations. However, seeing the books studied I took courage in myself. Now I read Ebooks on my tablet but I don't get the same feeling. I think the psychological aspect should not be underestimated. Ebooks are cheap and easy to use, but I still love paper :-) I agree with Hussin: the transition needs a change of culture.

Therefore, the use of ebooks should be nurtured carefully while using a long-term plan to take into consideration the different aspects addressed by my colleagues in this forum.

Yesterday, i told my wife that i downloaded a well known animated cartoon stories on my tablet. She answered that she prefers the original text book and she had the same attitude as Luca mentioned. So i also think that the psychological aspect is important.

May be because animated cartoon stories, in book form, bring back memories of the past specially if such animated cartoons were shared with beloved ones in the family. So, there, hard copy books may bring emotional attachment as well.

I recall when writing up my thesis some years ago that I had numerous hardcopy textbooks that I made many valuable comments in; I still use these textbooks to inform my teaching and supervision today. One of these books by J.W. Creswell: Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches still holds pride of place on my bookcase and often referred to when directing PhD students on methodological issues. What is coming through loud and clear from all contributions to this question is the need to get the balance right and use careful consideration of student populations targeted. Giving students the option of e-book or hardcopy versions is important to ensure that they make the decision which suits their style of learning.

Winifred, you brought in a continuous emotional experience. However, will the new generation live such an episode in their future studies? maybe, no, if they simply follow a fully e-book track!

Hussin, I understand what you mean and appreciate that the new generation being more IT literate would embrace e-books . Perhaps I am one of these people that need to be dragged into the 21st century!!

Winifred, join the club. Though I am making my best to be as literate in social networks as my kids. However, it takes me more energy to spend to keep updated than they do. It is an exciting evolutionary process and I am happy , at least doing my best, to switch if suddenly there is a move towards more technology.

On an individual aspect switching is not so difficult.

What I am worried about is the implementation in a class of 30 students and above.

How we can control the use of the tablets in class by only one instructor?

Another thing against switching totally to e-book. As far as I know the LCD display’s extreme blue has an influence to the level of melatonin, hence to read e-books on an LCD monitor can be harmful to the normal sleeping period. To learn from e-books at night could unbalance the healthy sleeping.

Roger, the class control depends on the rules or policies you establish in class with your students enforced with the instructor's approach which requires him/her to walk around the class between the students to coach the use of the Tablets and the use of the material. My advise is that you call Sabis group (the Choueifat people) because they have been doing experimentation at a pilot level to implement tablets and electronic books fully in class.

So, Bassam, you are referring to the classical issue of digital divide. The impact of digital divide was very clear a decade ago, however, today, you may observe that even in the Saharan countries using solar energy kids are equipped with electronic devices and supported with tablets as well as other networking tools. So, the technology is possibly available but the problem is with the educational system. They may not be using blended technology in class or if they are to a limited extent.

Using reverse psychology on students pays many times. Your experience Hsu is vivid and real, and we as professors many times do the same. Therefore, instructors have to be aware of their students' behavior so as to use the appropriate measures when necessary. Plus, a very important observation, the instructor has to add excitement in class so that students do not have a reason to ignore the lecture or their contribution.

@Roger, I am not an old-fashioned person at all! My opinion is that total switching will never happen! Can You imagine University libraries if it happens? One does not exclude the other. It is a subjective matter for each individual to use hard copy book, hard copy of e-book, just e-books...,...etc At the end, we can not avoid technology at all!

Dear Ljubomir,

I appreciate your comment. Orienting students in university about the use of technology will be so important to afford this balance.

Dear Sue,

I think you have to do a balance as Ljubomir suggested.

Eyes are 130 megapixel 3D-VIDEO(!)-camera. In addition - some of E-books are with glare.

No wonder, that Sue keep gogles on photo - I have so. Before computers it was visible three line of characters better than norm; now I can see only two on top.

Computers and E-learning - it's excellent ! - with displays from the future....

Andrei, using blened education permits a mix use of technology in businesses while at the same time observing for safety issues using "Ergonomics" to match the right technology and the right use of it while observing for the health of the users.

Sorry, corrected:

Andrei, using blended education permits a mix use of technology in preparing students for the future (or using it in business to train employees) while at the same time observing for safety issues using "Ergonomics" to match the right technology and the right use of it while observing for the health of the users.

Dear Hussin,

ergonomics ( low resolution of displays) is also problem but most severe is text as main way of info presentation. Visualization of text into images, IMHO, is most valuable approach in this direction, but in presence is far from excellence.

Synergy from use of two bad technologies ( text vs images and low resolution displays vs paper books) is visible. But with glasses :-)

Agree, so the appropriate use is moderation with planned breaks in case of loaded material.

I do not quite understand the last sentence - because I'm not strong in English.

Could you explain in another way?

Let me put it in a different manner. The moderate use of technology in education brings us to the Blended Education approach ( a mix of technology and formal education techniques), as for the other part of the sentence I mean when there are much to read using e-books, the instructors have to plan that taking into consideration your point of view about the harm resulting from continuous exposure. That is, breaking the material by introducing other techniques and therefore, students would not leave ebooks completely but at the same time using these moderately.

Yes, sure, you are right!

I understand that our technology is not perfect, and the transition should go evolutionarily.

But now exist available technology to provide information that is very effective. We are talking about Hollywood, advertising and computer games. Almost any textbook (lecture) can be turned into a film, with a voice to convey the basic meaning and subtitles spend formula (text). Workshops can be turned into fascinating computer games - interactive, with the ability to backoff.

But such lectures should not be one-man show, as it is now (one professor for all). Author of such video lectures should be an topic expert , and a psychologist, and experts from advertising and cinema, etc.

Internet already appear sometimes similar things that make the technologically advanced teachers - but there are no blockbusters.

Arriba Amigo. That is, in spanish, and means Hurra my Friend. Well said Andrei.

What you just said was really practiced by my brother (a doctorate in Robotics and is an educator) when he opened his own company to produce CD-ROMS (back then in 1994) where he produced science CDs with film, animation, lectures, and a good mix of techniques to teach high schoolers Physics. But at that time, much of his work was plagiarized in Malaysia and China and lost lots of money. Back then, it was a very creative and innovative approach to teach. Maybe today things are different especially if rights are respected.

I will be transitioning to E-books and some form of online or recorded lectures for the graduate level elective course I coordinate. I think that we will all be using this teaching method in the future. I'm not an education expert by any means, but very interested in the learning outcomes after these changes take place. Textbooks seem so overpriced these days. Perhaps the affordability of E books and the ability for authors to edit errors and update new information without the need for students and faculty to purchase a newer edition of the same text every few years would be an advantage for everyone. As a graduate student I spent many hours wandering the library "stacks" when reviewing literature. Now we just search electronically from our desks and save our information to a mass storage device. This evolution may lead to other, and perhaps better teaching methods in the future. Only time will tell.

I was informed two weeks ago that the prices for textbooks are doubling and tripling. I totally agree with Edward that switching to ebooks will be an advantage espacially that it is so difficult to oblige students to buy books with these prices.

Roger, do not forget all the different points discussed in this forum. Things have to be considered one point at a time.

Dear Dr. Hussein, for sure I will not forget. I am just trying to define a practical answer for my question based on what all the commenters said.

Dear Dr. Hussein, if we consider all the comments given for this question we can deduce that the use of etextbooks is full of advantages and disadvantages. You mentioned that we have to moderate our use. What do you mean by this word?

By moderation I mean to prepare a well designed methodology where you mix the use of ebooks with other teaching techniques. Also, taking into consideration that our students do not like to spend long times reading, so the class has to be interactive involving u-tube films, internet collaboration resources, team work setups, and so on...

Switching to etextbooks does not imply less work to the instructors, rather the exercise will require much more work especially the first time.